ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of the historical evolution of employment relationship in India and discusses the role of social partners and the institutional framework, processes and key issues relating to tripartite consultations, collective bargaining and workers' participation. The institutional framework for industrial relations includes consultative machinery and conciliation and arbitration machinery. The dispute resolution machinery consisted of four levels: bipartite negotiations, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication. Adjudication or compulsory arbitration is the last resort to redress an industrial dispute. Pressure of competition is forcing organisations and its employees to be adaptive and flexible with attendant insecurity. In the post-World War II scenario, the notion of the welfare state gained currency and most states began to protect and further the interest of workers and their welfare. In India the state is the largest employer besides being the regulator and enforcer of legislation. The employers' associations too have limited coverage and problems of disunity.